Death a tragic accident: Lawyer - The West Australian

Mandurah sailmaker Tauri Litchfield's alleged murder by a group of boys was a "genuine and tragic accident", a defence lawyer suggested today.

Scott Corish made the submission while continuing his closing addresses in the Children's Court trial of his 14-year-old client, who is fighting charges of murder along with four other teenage boys.

The youths are also fighting alternative charges of manslaughter and doing an unlawful act causing death.

The teenagers allegedly "herded" the 28-year-old after he was punched to the face in Mandurah in March last year, causing him to run before tripping or falling over a ledge, striking his head on the bitumen.

Today, Mr Corish said while his client had chased Mr Litchfield and caused him to run, the fall and death could not have been foreseen by his client, who he stressed was a child at the time.

He said his client also had no control over the path Mr Litchfield chose to run.

"That was a genuine and tragic accident," he said.

"Chasing someone is not an act likely to endanger life."

Mr Corish also submitted that Mr Litchfield's decision to change his direction meant there was a break between the boys' act of chasing and the tragic consequences that followed.